Sunday, March 30, 2008
Direction bias
On two occasions now we have been pleased to have no important messages from the talking computer on Southwest Trains on the North bound, outbound journey, only to find that the computer has found its voice by the time we get to the South bound, return journey. Is there some glitch in the program which is sensitive to direction? Or are Southwest Trains taking pity on us to the extent of random suppression of talking computer on North bound journeys?
We also found that the Saturday Sun is getting almost as fat as the Daily Mail. One pullout for football and another for something else sporty. But despite the fatness we could find nothing about yesterday's boat race. One understands that the Sun might make a point - or even a parade - of not covering a toffs' sport - but it is a bit odd all the same. A reasonably major sporting event.
Following the visit to Uncle Vanya reported in February, have now been back for a second helping at the theatre at Guildford - where it seems that they do as much business selling food as drama. The large food area very full when we arrived, maybe 45 minutes before the off. Play much improved by the two months touring since February. The thing has shaken down and was all much more convincing and satisfying. It had become what I think is called, in luvvy speak, a proper piece of ensemble acting. Much more physical. Sonya more frantic. Yelena came to life. Astrov almost came to life through his lecturing. Vanya was fuller. And the pace was differant. Rather than climbing to a climax at the end, this time the climax came at the beginning of the third act, when Yelena tells Vanya that she must go forthwith. Which worked rather better, with one not being left a bit up in the air at the end of the show. All in all, one can see how one might get into the habit of going to the same show lots of times. Lots of interest in the variations on the theme.
We also found that the Saturday Sun is getting almost as fat as the Daily Mail. One pullout for football and another for something else sporty. But despite the fatness we could find nothing about yesterday's boat race. One understands that the Sun might make a point - or even a parade - of not covering a toffs' sport - but it is a bit odd all the same. A reasonably major sporting event.
Following the visit to Uncle Vanya reported in February, have now been back for a second helping at the theatre at Guildford - where it seems that they do as much business selling food as drama. The large food area very full when we arrived, maybe 45 minutes before the off. Play much improved by the two months touring since February. The thing has shaken down and was all much more convincing and satisfying. It had become what I think is called, in luvvy speak, a proper piece of ensemble acting. Much more physical. Sonya more frantic. Yelena came to life. Astrov almost came to life through his lecturing. Vanya was fuller. And the pace was differant. Rather than climbing to a climax at the end, this time the climax came at the beginning of the third act, when Yelena tells Vanya that she must go forthwith. Which worked rather better, with one not being left a bit up in the air at the end of the show. All in all, one can see how one might get into the habit of going to the same show lots of times. Lots of interest in the variations on the theme.
# posted by Jim @ 1:37 AM 
